Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Soil Transmitted Helminth Infections Among  Schoolchildren in Estie District, South Gondar  Zone, Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia

Dagnew, Yehuala

dc.contributor.author	Dagnew, Yehuala
dc.date.accessioned	2022-11-14T09:41:34Z
dc.date.available	2022-11-14T09:41:34Z
dc.date.issued	2022-09
dc.identifier.uri	http://ir.bdu.edu.et/handle/123456789/14367
dc.description.abstract	Soil-transmitted helminth infections (STHIs) are caused by different species of parasitic worms and transmitted by eggs present in human feces which contaminate the soil. They are common among school-aged children. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of STHIs, and their associated risk factors among school children in Estie district. A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in four primary schools in the Estie district, south Gondar zone, Amhara region, starting from February to May 2022. The four schools were selected deliberately. Sample size was calculated using single proportion formula and sample children were selected using systematic random sampling. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to gather information on the risk factors of STHIs. The presence of STHs in the stool samples were determined using the direct wet mount and the concentration methods. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. The chi-square and logistic regression tests were used to determine the associations between STHIs and the risk factors. P-values of < 0.05 were considered significant. The overall prevalence of STHIs was 14.8% (8.2% males and 6.6% females). Of all the identified soil transmitted helminths, Ascaris lumbricoides was the predominant infectious agent (7.7%), followed by hookworm species (3.6%), Enterobius vermicularis (1.3%), and Trichuris trichuria (0.8%). The family size ≥ 6 (AOR = 3.02; 95% CI = 1.41–6.47; P = 0.004), annual household incomes < 50,000 Ethiopian Birr (AOR = 10.36 ;95% CI = 1.88–56.99; p = 0.007), wearing open shoes (AOR = 2.37; 95% CI = 1.08 – 5.20; p = 0.031), untrimmed fingernails (AOR =7.66; 95% CI = 2.96–19.84; p ≤ 0.001), playing with soil (AOR = 4.40; 95% CI = 1.79– 10.85; p ≤ 0.001), open field defecation (AOR = 4.15; 95% CI = 1.81–13.34; p = 0.003), unavailability of home latrine (AOR = 4.15; 95% CI = 1.81 – 13.34) were the predictor factors for soil-transmitted helminth infection. The rates of STHIs were low in the study primary schoolchildren. Based on the statistical analysis, hygienic practices are important to prevent STHIs.	en_US
dc.language.iso	en	en_US
dc.subject	Biology	en_US
dc.title	Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Soil Transmitted Helminth Infections Among Schoolchildren in Estie District, South Gondar Zone, Amhara Region, Northwest Ethiopia	en_US
dc.type	Thesis	en_US